The Portland City Council≈ passed an ordinance Thursday banning the sale of force-fed foie gras in the city. The policy passed 7–5, with Councilor Steve Novick siding with the six members of the council’s progressive caucus. Cheers erupted from a sea of audience members in green Pro-Animal Oregon shirts at the announcement of the vote tally.
“I just cannot say that I feel like it’s OK to force-feed an animal to produce an expensive delicacy,” Novick said Thursday. “And I know that reasonable people can disagree. It’s an emotional issue.” He noted that New York City, the “epicenter of fine dining in America,” and Pittsburgh, “not known as a wacky liberal city,” had also passed foie gras bans. Novick made similar points when he told WW on Monday that he would vote in favor of the ordinance.
The policy has sparked two fights. One pits the animal rights group Pro-Animal Oregon versus the French restaurant Le Pigeon (and its sibling restaurant Canard), which is famous for its foie gras concoctions. Second is a spat between the council’s progressive caucus—which unanimously voted in favor of the ban—and moderates who say the whole thing is a waste of time…